VOLUNTEERS “in the pink” at receiving royal recognition are seeking to bolster their numbers to further improve their services to city visitors.

Members of the distinctive pink-tabarded Durham Pointers group gathered at their regular pitch in the city’s Market Place to celebrate today’s (Tuesday June 2) news of the receipt of a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services.

But scheme founder and promoter, Colin Wilkes, said it is not a “closed shop” and the group is not seeking to rest on its laurels.

“We’re now in our fourth year and have 60-plus volunteers, but it’s a case of the more the merrier.

“We’ve been able to extend this year to a seven-day-week service, from mid-May to September, with groups of three working in rotas during the week, but with a senior ‘Pointer’ available at all times to answer any particular specific query.

“We also have a ‘meet and greet’ service for parties arriving at the coach park on The Sands, handing out city maps and giving an initial welcome.

“It’s really a case of offering a face-to-face interaction to people arriving in the city who are probably unfamiliar with their surroundings.”

He said a specific aim now is to tailor information to different ability groups, focusing on access to all, dementia-awareness, deaf awareness and also working with Blind Life in Durham.

On the back of those collaborations a new riverside route guide is being produced, avoiding steps and a large extended version of the city attractions map given out by pointers.

Further details for would-be pointers are available via the website, www.durhampointers.co.uk, or by ringing the duty pointer, on (07582) 332621.

• County Durham’s Lord Lieutenant Sue Snowdon will formally present the Queen’s award to the Durham Pointers later in the year.